Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-07
NEW YORK LETTER.
IlIIrAx 2usssLL AT sARAroGA-rHE
fRufR ABOUT HxR DIAMONDS.
4 New Speculation The Chinese Church
Recently Burned failing . Mans
Liberty from Him.


sCorespondcnce Of the Richmond Dispatch.l
New YoRK. August 6, 1887.
Lillian Russell was very poor when
her costumer sued her for 81 300 for
dresses made and delivered. Lillian
had no property that could be attached,
although the sheriff searched diligently
for something upon which he could
levy. II was supposed that she pos
sessed o quantity OF diamonds OF the
first water. Thousands of persons had
seen her wear q glittering tiara. and the
glare of the footlights had been flashed
from diamond pins. cardrops, and rings
on Lillian'sperson into the eyes OF audi
cnces on both sides of the Atlantic. Per-
sons posted on dianons thought Lillian s
GEMS we're real and valued them at
$4,000 at least. She was asked about
the stones, and her reply made the SEN
sation Of the day in New York. She
said they were mere paste limitations.
Thus was another illusion OF the stage
exposed. The popular belief in the
almost fabulous wealth OF jewelry dis
PLAYED by stage stars suffered rude
shock. The gems were calmly pro-
duced by the fair Lillian, and it needed
no expert to see that they were almost
yalueiess limitations. The actress was
not at all abashed by the exposure.
She owned up TO the stage deception
with perfect GOODNESS. But her adj
mirers were very much chagrined.
The costumer got nothing by the
suit. Lillian had no money. She ex-
planned that her living cost all she
earned, and when there was difficulty
in accounting for certain large sums
she said she supposed the money must
have been spent for candy. The reve'
lation of the amount of candy con
sumed by this young woman was APP
palling.
WORTH THOUSANDS.
Lillian is now at Saratoga. She oc
cupies the elegant cottage on Union
avenue that once belonged to DIR,
Leonard, and she drives one OF tae
prettiest turnouts at the Springs. Fol
a poor little player-girl who has spent
ali her money for caIamels she man
ages TO get along quite comfortably.
But the true story of the diamonds
has not been told. The audiences
whose eyes have been dazzled by the
flashing of her gems were not de
ceiyed. On the stage she wore stones
really worth $4,000. When the sui
was brought these stones were removed
from their settings and in their places
were put paste limitations.
Lillian's cousin. young man WHIT
sometimes sings i'll opera companies
took charge of the real stones anC
kept them safely so long as there wa
any danger that the COS umer woul'
be looking for them.
The young man was useful In man.
WAYS TO the law-worried actress. Owins
TO his faithful activity it was Ions
time before summons to appear in cOur
could be served upon her. She liveC
III ali apaItment-house uptown, anC
there were two exits from her rooms.
When the deputy appeared at ont
door with the summons the young mai
detained him long enough to give Lii
liah chance to skip ont of the other
Many amusing experiences and hair
breadth escapes she had before the Off
cers Of the law finally caught her nap
ping and served the summons.
ANEW SPECULATIVE MOLOCH.
The Moloch of speculation is eve
holding out red-hot arms for new offer
ings to his tickle majesty, and the lates
. g l,lf
listing Of silver certificates at the Stool
Exchange. Any person may deposi
at a bank 1000 ounces of silver anI
receive certificate representing tn
market value of the bullion. Tn
Western National Bank, of whicl
the bon. Daniel Manning is tn
president, has been conspicuous IN tn
movement, and there has been ques
ton raised us to the legality of sucl
transactions. They are strictly legal
and may yet prove considerable
source OF revenue to the bank of tn
shrewd ex-Secretary of the Treasury
who not so many years ago was re
ceiving Sl2 a week as a reporter tor tn
Albany Argus and 81 week from
western paper for writing q weekly re
view of the Albany cattle maj
ket. The transaction involves merel
q change from bullion to certlficat
representing its value. The certiticat
is, Of course, negotiable, but it is in II
sense currency. This new move i'll tn
speculative world was made primaril
to promote speculation. The Stoc
Exchange brokers, hard pushed by tn
Consolidated Exchange and the buckle
shops, is trying to increase its bushes
and the silver certificates are held oil
as bait to tempt the speculative publ
TO try something new. Any perso
may take 1000 ounces of silver to
bank ard on payment OF % cents ft
the service will receive a certificate
exchange for il, the bank holding tn
bullion in trust.
ISSUING THE CERTIFICATES.
Certificates for some 100000 ounce
OF silver have been issued within a weel
and their value, fluctuating daily,
about 9c-that is, 1000 ounces al
worth $500. They can be sold on Il
Stock Exchange as same as stocks. III
plan has been in operation only abo'
q week, and the speculation as yet is
a small scale. In the fall, however,
the market wakes up, it may reach
large aggregate. Stockholders e
courage the new scheme because
promises 10 increase their commission
But the speculative devices of har
pusbed brokers are of little cons
quence, and the one important thu
for consideration in this new d
parture is the possibility
New York rivalling London
great silver market. There is !
question that this country has suffert
seriously from the fact that London
the dominant silver market of Il
world. BY manipulating the price En-
lishmen have been able to buy East l
dian wheat almost at their own price
The silver rupee being the standa
money OF India. A decline in the PR
of silver, the money with which 7
wheat was paid for, meant practical
a fall in the quotation for Indian whe'
even though wheat might really
main stationary. England has robb
India for long time in this fashi
because the country is not fully open
40 what We term civilization, and I
means of discriminating intelliger
are limited. With the fall of sill,
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